Butter-cutter.



R. A. SIMPSON.

BUTTER CUTTER.

APP1LICAT!0N FILED JULY 15.1915- 15236 219 Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

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R. A. SIMPSON.

BUTTER CUTTER.

APPLICATION FlLED JULY I5, 1915.

5286,5219 Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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RUFUS A. SIMPSON, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

BUTTER-CUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug, 7 .191 '1 Application filed July 15, 1915. Serial No. 40,001.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUrUs A. SIMPSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Butter-Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in butter cutters, more particularly to a type of machine adapted to cut one or two pound sections from a large molded block of butter.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide improved means for supporting the molded block of butterwhereby when the cutting device is moved forwardly the supporting structure is dropped out of its Way.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide means for trimming the block to an accurate size, before passing through the cutting wires whereby each section will be of uniform size and weight.

Still another object is to provide an improved form of tilting table on which the cut sections of butter are received, this table being provided with a subframe where by it automatically adjusts itself to the angle of the cut butter, and being so mountedthat it is easily tilted and that the ends ofthe cut sections will not scrape the uncut end of the block.

Other objects are to provide a simple and efficient mechanism for the purpose herein set forth and in general to improve devices of this character.

With these and. other objects in view the invention consists in the novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts herein illustrated and more specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

References being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specificati0n:

Figure 1 is a view in plan showing the im.- proved butter, cutter and mold truck.

Fig. 2 is a view in section along the line 2--2, Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a View in rear elevation of the tilting table, showing the subframe in po- 'siti on therein.

Fig. 4: is a transverse view in section through the tilting table and cutting head.

Fig. '5 is a view in hor zontal section through the vertical back portion of the tilting frame. 1

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view on 6+6, Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is aview in plan of, a wedgeused 1n connection with a sectional supporting top on the mold truck.

Fig. 8 is a View in plan of the device used on the opposite side of the mold table to prevent movement of supporting sections before their proper time.

Fig. 9 is a view in end. elevation of the deviceshown in Fig. 7

Fig. 10.is aview inend elevation of the device shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a view in perspective of one of the sections of the trucktop.

Referring to corresponding parts in the several views, 1 denotesthe truck on which a molded block of butter is placed, this truck being adapted to be secured to the cutting table 2, in any preferred manner so as to beheld rigidly connected and in alinement therewith. Each of these members is provided with parallel spaced longitudinal tracks 3, having the rack teeth. 4: on one side thereof andthenndercut slot 5 for the purposes hereinafter described.

The cutting apparatus designated in general by 6 comprises the upright frame 7, having the two standards 8 and connected by the cross member 9. The upright standards have outwardly extending guide ways 10, on which is slidably mounted members 11. These members having the upwardly extending arms 12, which are connected at their top by cross brace 13.

A cutting wire 14 extends between opposite members 11, and is held in tension by means of tapered keys 15, on the same principle as a violin key. Pivotally attached to thecross member 9 are two arms 16, having formed on their lower ends the toothed gear segments 17, which mesh together base 21 which rests on the longitudinal frame member 22, and which extends into the grooves 5. These base members are connected by a bar 23 to the under side of which is attached angles 20. These angles extend in a rearwardly direction and attached thereto are bearing blocks 24, wherein are journaled shafts 25 and 26. The shaft 25 has attached to its outer ends crank handles 27, the handle on one side being provided with gear teeth 28, meshing with the teeth of gear 29, attached to shaft 26.

The latter shaft is also provided with the two pinions 29, one on each side of the machine and which are adapted to mesh with the gear teeth of racks 3. In this manner by the turning of the crank handles 27 the cutting device 6 may be moved forwardly or backwardly depending on the direction in which the handle is rotated.

It'will be noted that bearing blocks 24 have clamped therein long tubular sleeves 31 in which shaft 26 rotates, these sleeves being provided with grease cups 32, by which lubricant is forced on to the shaft. Between sleeves 31 and the pinion 39, collars are mounted on shaft 26, these collars being provided with downwardly extending flanges 33, having ribs 34, which extend into the slot on the under side of the rack bar 3 and so hold the pinion and rack in mesh.

The tilting table on which the cut butter is received consists of a substantially rec-' tangular frame 35, having the upright side members 36, connected by the top cross member 37 and intermediate cross member 38,

and provided with handles 39, adjacent each of the upper corners.

On the rear of the upright standards 36 adjacent their lower ends are formed shoulders from which extend curved fingers 40 the recesses and fingers forming a semicircular bearing which fits over sleeves 31 and allows the frame 35 to rotate thereon. It will be noted that when the tilting table is in its upright position that the bearings formed by fingers 41 do not rest on sleeves 31 but that the weight of the frame and contents is taken by the adjusting screws 43.

The lower end of frame 35 has brackets 42 extending at right angles thereto, on which is a board 44 to receive the butter after it is forced through the cutting wires. These brackets 42 rest on the screws 43 which in turn extend through the bar 23, connecting brackets 8.

A spring strip projecting from the frame 7 is provided with a hook end 41, which engages the top bar 37 and so holds the frame in position to receive the sections of cut butter. By this method of mounting the tilting table, when the latter is released by raising hook 41, the weight of the table and tinued tilting operation remains easy. A

bar 41 extending across the angles 20 forms a rest for frame 35 when in its horizontal position.

WVhen the butter is forced through the cutting wires it comes in contact with certain boards 46, which rest against the frame 35, and in order that each section may be of uniform length it is essential that these boards be parallel with the cutting wire 14. To antomatically bring about such conditions I provide a subframe consisting of the vertically disposed angles 47 connected by cross pieces 48 and a threaded screw 49 extends through the cross member 38 having a hand wheel 49 on one side and having the oppo' site side loosely attached to the cross member 48 as by a ball and socket joint. In this manner the subframe may be adjusted to or from the cutting wire 14, to give the required length of section for butter of different density, at the same time if due to wear or other conditions the surface of the boards 46 should not be parallel with the cutting wire, the subframe will adjust itself flat with the end of the block of butter.

The wire 14 cuts off the sections from the block of butter and in order to divide the sections longitudinally I provide a plurality of horizontal and vertically disposed cutting wires 50 and 51. These wires are held in the frame 52, the tension being adjusted by taper keys 53. The opening in this frame is slightly larger than the size of the block of butter, and around the two sides and the top portion thereof I provide forwardly projecting cutting edges 54 to shave down the block to the exact dimensions. These edges may be formed integrally on the frame or may be separate pieces as here illustrated. In this manner the block does not require exact adjustment, with reference to the opening in the cutting frame 52 and the various inequalities on the outer surface thereof are immaterial.

To catch the shaving of butter which is removed by the side cutting edges I provide devices one of which is shown in position in Fig. 2. These devices are constructed right and left hand and consist of the bottom board 81, the back )late 82 which rests againstthe frame 52. late 82 has an extension 83 having an end adapted to hook over a fitud 84 in the cross bar 9, The bottom platerests on rack 3 and has ahook 85 onthe under side to prevent lateral displacement.

It will be notedthat the vertical set of wires rest on the upper cutting edge and zontal one and under no circumstances do they come in contact. By the old construction the wires either rested on, orset onthe other or were interlaced. In the former case when they were forced through; the butter a backward curving took place, which was greatest at the center, hence those wires which were in front would slide on those in the rear toward the center. In the latter case the tension of the interwoven wires would tend to hold any displacementwhich condition would be aggravated as the wires become rusted.

The frame 52 is freely movable in a lateral direction within the clips 60. and is vertically adjustable by turning the screws 61, the heads of which rest on the upper surface of angles 20. The upper portion of this frame is held in position by the bell crank 62, contacting with the lug 63 cast on the frame and resting against cross member 9.

The butter is molded on the truck 1, on a sectional platform comprising a plurality of contacting strips 64. These strips are uniform in size, being provided on one side with a slot 65, the bottom of which is at an angle to the outer edge as shown at 66. As the top edges of these strips are on a level with the upper edge of the bottom bar of frame 52, it will be apparent that as this frame is moved forwardly these strips must i be dropped out of position. To accomplish this result I provide the wedge member shown in detail in Fig. 7 consisting of the wedge portion 67, adapted to enter the slot 65 of the platform sections. Continuing from this wedge is the narrow strip 68, the end 7 0 which abuts against the base of frame 7 A rib 69 is provided along the side which fits in the recess on the under side of the rack bars 3, thereby preventing the wedge from being lifted upwardly. Thus as the frame is moved forwardly this wedge is pushed through the slots 65, of each of the platform sections pushing these bars toward the opposite side of the machine until the edge thereof is within the frame member 22. At this time the wedge portion 67 has passed that bar allowing the end to drop down and that section to fall through the frame.

To prevent the adjoining section from being moved by this wedge due to friction therebetweeml provide the member 72 on .the opposite side of the machine.

This member has the narrow strip 7 3 which abuts against the base of frame 7 and a rib 74 which enters the slot in the rack and so holds the device in place. Each of these members has an eye 71 for convenience in handling.

The operation is as follows:

The mold is set on the sectional platform comprising sections 64 and a block of butter molded therein. Then this block has sufliciently cooled the sides are removed and by turning the crank handles 27, the cutting head 6 is moved forwardly, pressing wires 50 and 51 into the butter until the end of the block comes in contact with the boards 46 on the frame 35. The wire 14 is then drawn down through the butter by the operating handles 19, thus, as shown in the drawings, cutting off thirty-two sections of butter. These sections rest on the board 44 which cover the arms 42 with their ends against the boards 48 on the subframe 47 The frame 35 is then tilted backwardly until it rests on stop 41, in which position the sections stand on their ends on boards 46 by which they are carried to the wrapping table.

After bearing away these cut prints the head is raised, other boards are placed in position against the subframe and the head advanced until the butter contacts with these boards and the operation is repeated.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention it will be understood that minor changes may be made in detail and design within the scope of the claims without departing from r the spirit thereof.

What I claim as new and wish to cover by Letters Patent is 1. A butter cutting machine comprising in combination, a head adapted to be ad- "anced toward a molded block of butter. :1 frame carrying wires for making the longitudinal cuts in said block, and forwardlv extending cutting edges carried by said frame adapted to. size the block of butter.

2. A butter cutting machine comprising in combination, a head adapted to be advanced toward a molded block of butter, a rectangular frame carried by-said head, and forwardly extending cutting edges carried by said frame for sizing the block of butter.

3. A butter cutting machine comprising in combination, a head adapted to be advanced toward a molded block of butter, a rectangular frame carried by said head, wires carried by said frame for making the longitudinal cuts in said blocks, and forwardly extending cutting edges carried by said framefor sizing the block of butter.

4. A butter cutting machine comprising in combination, a movable-head adapted to be advanced toward a molded block of butter, a frame carried by said head and having a rectangular opening therein, a llOllzontal and a vertical set of wires extending across said opening, means for adjusting the tension of said wires, and forwardly extending cutting edges around said opening for sizing the block of butter.

5. A butter cutting machine comprising in combination, a movable head adapted to be advanced-toward a molded block of butter, a removable cutter frame positioned in front of said head in a plane at right angles to the direction of movement of said head, said frame being freely movable in a horizontal direction and having means for providing a positive vertical adjustment, and having a rectangular opening therein, a horizontal and a vertical set of cutting wires carried by said frame and extending across said opening and forwardly extending cutting edges around said opening for sizing a molded block of butter.

6. A butter cutting machine comprising in combination, longitudinal supporting members, a sectional mold bottom adapted to rest on said members and to carry a molded block of butter, a cutter head adapted to be advanced toward said sectional mold bottom, a wedge movable with said head, said wedge causing the lateral displacement of the sections of the mold bottom to cause the same to drop through said supporting members, and a member coacting with said wedge to cause said sections to be displaced consecutively.

7 A butter cutting machine comprising in combination, a framehaving spaced longitudinal supporting members, a cutting head movable along said supporting members, a sectional mold bottom adapted to rest across said supporting members and carry a mold ed block of butter, a wedge member dis-' posed on one of said supporting members and adapted to be advanced with said cutting head, said wedge member being adapted to cause the lateral displacement of the mold bottom section adjacent said cutting head, and a member carried. by the opposite longitudinal member for preventing the displacement of the next adjacent mold bottom section.

8. A butter cutting machine, the combination of a suitable frame, a cutting head longitudinally movable on said frame, and wires carried thereby for making the longitudinal and transverse cuts, a tilting table pivotally mounted in the rear of said cutting head, said table having an upright rear portion and a horizontal base portion, a subframe attached to said upright rear portion by a universal joint at the center thereof, and forwardly extending cutting edges disposed on said frame and adapted to size the material to be cut.

9. A butter cutting machine comprising in combination, a frame having spaced longitudinal supporting members, a cutting head movable along said supporting members, a tilting table positionedin the rear of said cutting head and having an upright rear portion to act as a, stop to gage the length of butter cut off and a horizontal portion to receive the weight of the butter, an ad justing screw extending through said head on which said table pivots when first tilted, means for pivotally supporting said table, and other pivotal means adapted to en gage and carry said table after the tilting operation is partially completed.

10. A butter cutting machine comprising a movable head supported to be moved into engagement with a block of butter, a frame carried by said head and provided with a rectangular opening, a set of wires extendmg across said opening in spaced relation,

a second set of wires extending across said opening at right angles to the first-mentioned wires and also 1n spaced relation, the wires of one set being posltioned a sub stantial distance in advance of and out of contact with the wires of the other set, and means for taking up any slack in the wires of both sets. 7

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

RUFUS A. SIMPSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Ooinmlssioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

